Legislative Activity

The USA Batteries Act seeks to amend Superfund excise taxes by removing lead oxide, antimony, and sulfuric acid from the list of taxable chemicals. This change aims to alleviate the tax burden on domestic battery manufacturers, ensuring fair competition with imported batteries. The Act recognizes the economic importance and high recyclability of lead batteries, which are crucial for various sectors, and emphasizes the need to support American manufacturing and jobs in the battery industry. Ultimately, the Act intends to bolster the global competitiveness of the U.S. lead battery industry by reducing raw material costs.

The "Alternatives to PAIN Act" amends Medicare Part D to improve access to non-opioid pain management drugs by waiving deductibles and ensuring they are placed on the lowest cost-sharing tier starting in 2026. The Act also prohibits the use of step therapy and prior authorization requirements for these drugs, further easing access for patients. These changes aim to provide more accessible alternatives for pain management, reducing reliance on opioids.

The "CREEPER Act 2.0" prohibits the importation, transportation, sale, and distribution of child sex dolls, defined as anatomically correct dolls, mannequins, or robots with features resembling a minor, intended for sexual acts, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for violations. This bill aims to prevent the exploitation and abuse of minors by criminalizing the trafficking and possession of these dolls.

The "SHIELD Act of 2025" aims to protect individuals from the non-consensual distribution of intimate visual depictions, establishing federal offenses and penalties for those who knowingly distribute such images with reckless disregard for the depicted individual's lack of consent, or distribute depictions of nude minors. It defines key terms, sets forth specific offenses, and outlines penalties including fines and imprisonment, while also providing exceptions for law enforcement activities, good-faith distributions, and protecting communications service providers from liability under certain conditions. The act also addresses threats related to the distribution of intimate images and establishes extraterritorial jurisdiction in certain cases.

The Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act aims to combat human trafficking by establishing a demonstration project that trains students, teachers, and school personnel to understand, recognize, prevent, and respond to signs of human trafficking and child exploitation. The Act authorizes grants to eligible entities for implementing training programs and requires data collection and reporting to Congress on the project's outcomes, including the number of survivors identified and served. This act allocates $15 million annually from 2026 to 2029 to support these initiatives.

The "PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2025" extends funding for research on preterm births and infant care through 2029. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish an interagency working group to address premature birth issues and mandates a comprehensive study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on preterm births, including cost analysis, risk factor identification, and best practices for prevention and treatment. A report on the study's findings must be submitted to Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human Services within 24 months.

The "National Plan for Epilepsy Act" aims to address the significant impact of epilepsy by establishing a comprehensive national plan for its prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure. This act mandates the creation of an Advisory Council on Epilepsy Research, Care, and Services, composed of federal and non-federal experts, to evaluate and improve federally funded epilepsy efforts. The council will provide recommendations to enhance coordination, diagnosis, treatment, research, and public awareness, and reduce the financial burden of epilepsy on families. Ultimately, the act seeks to improve the lives of individuals with epilepsy and their caregivers through coordinated research, improved access to care, and enhanced public awareness.

The Space Infrastructure Act designates space systems, services, and technology as critical infrastructure, requiring the Department of Homeland Security to define its scope and identify coordinating bodies. This act amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to formally include space-related assets as critical infrastructure. It also mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress on the implementation of these changes.

The SAFE Act amends the Social Security Act to include physical and occupational therapy benefits in Medicare annual wellness visits and initial preventive physical exams starting in 2026 for individuals determined to have fallen in the previous year. It mandates that these individuals receive falls risk assessments, fall prevention services, and outpatient therapy services. Additionally, the Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit annual reports to Congress on falls experienced by individuals aged 65 and older.

The "Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act" amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, changing the calculation and wage limitations based on employee categories and hours worked. It increases wage limitations for qualified veterans and revises rules for summer youth employees and long-term family assistance recipients. Additionally, the act removes the age limit for qualified supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits recipients, with these changes taking effect for individuals starting work after December 31, 2024.

The "Freedom First Lend Lease Act" empowers the President to lend or lease defense articles to Ukraine and Eastern European countries impacted by Russia's invasion, for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, temporarily waiving certain restrictions related to foreign assistance and arms export control for Ukraine. The bill requires expedited procedures for the delivery of defense articles and stipulates that standard laws regarding return, reimbursement, and repayment will apply. Presidential authority can only be delegated to Senate-confirmed officials.

The "Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act" amends Section 529 savings accounts to include expenses related to postsecondary credentialing programs. This allows 529 funds to cover costs like tuition, fees, books, supplies, and testing fees for recognized programs and credentials, as defined by the bill. These changes would apply to distributions made after the bill is enacted.

The "No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act" prohibits the use of the DeepSeek application on government devices, with exceptions for law enforcement, national security, and security research. The Office of Management and Budget is tasked with creating guidelines for executive agencies to remove DeepSeek from their information technology. Any authorized use of DeepSeek under the exceptions requires documented risk mitigation actions.

The "Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act" amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to exclude the net value of a family farm (on which the family resides) or a small business (with no more than 100 employees and owned/controlled by the family) from consideration as an asset when determining financial need for federal student aid. This change aims to make higher education more accessible for students from family farm and small business backgrounds.

The "Marc Fischer Memorial Act" aims to combat the flow of synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl, into Federal prisons through the mail. It mandates the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to develop and implement a strategy to equip all Federal correctional facilities with the technology and processes needed to scan mail, protect staff and inmates, and ensure timely delivery of mail copies while maintaining legal mail privileges. The strategy includes assessing current practices, identifying necessary resources, and providing a budgetary proposal for implementation, with ongoing reporting to Congress on its effectiveness.

This bill aims to include the Czech Republic in the list of countries whose citizens are eligible for E-1 trade visas, provided the Czech government offers reciprocal visa opportunities to U.S. citizens. This would allow Czech nationals to enter the United States for trade purposes under the E-1 nonimmigrant visa program, fostering stronger economic ties between the two nations.

The CARGO Act of 2025 prohibits the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from funding research or programs involving live animals outside of the United States. This bill addresses concerns over the lack of oversight and potential mistreatment of animals in foreign research projects funded by American taxpayers. The Act ensures that NIH funding for animal research is restricted to projects conducted within the U.S. and its territories.

The Modern Authentication of Pharmaceuticals Act of 2025 aims to enhance the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain by requiring a physical chemical identifier on each dose of solid oral controlled substances manufactured five years after the law's enactment. It revises the definition of "product identifier" to include either a standardized graphic with specific information or a physical chemical identifier. The act also updates the definition of "verification" to include confirming product authenticity using the physical chemical identifier.

The Scientific Integrity Act mandates that federal agencies that fund, conduct, or oversee scientific research establish and enforce scientific integrity policies. These policies aim to protect scientists from political interference, ensure the open communication of scientific findings, and establish clear processes for reporting and addressing scientific misconduct. The Act requires agencies to appoint Scientific Integrity Officers, provide regular training, and report on misconduct complaints, with oversight from the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Congress. It also protects the rights of federal employees and contractors to share their findings and prevents the suppression or distortion of scientific data.

This bill, called the "Incentivizing Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Sales Act of 2025," allows taxpayers to exclude gains from their gross income when selling real property interests to qualified organizations for Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program purposes. The exclusion does not apply to sales by pass-through entities within three years of acquisition, with an exception for family-owned entities. This exclusion encourages land conservation and military readiness. It applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment.